Tumblin’ Dice 10-Year Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Cognac-based Orange Liqueur Casks Review

 

Dave Schmier has a long, storied history of plucking incredible barrels from distilleries worldwide. Dave started with MGP and never lost sight of it. Believe it or not, there was a time when so many naysayers rolled their eyes when yet another MGP-sourced whiskey hit the market. Some of those same people now swear up and down that MGP is fantastic. I’ve always found that worth a chuckle or three.

 

Dave built his reputation by sourcing some of the best barrels MGP offered under his Redemption brand. After much success, he sold Redemption to Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits. He took his winnings, rolled the dice again, and started Proof & Wood Ventures in 2015.

 

Today, Proof & Wood has grown to include several brands. One of its most popular is Tumblin’ Dice, where Dave does what he does best: betting on winners from MGP stocks.

 

And all of the above culminate in the subject of my review of Tumblin’ Dice’s 10-Year Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Cognac-based Orange Liqueur Casks (whew, that’s a mouthful!).

 

The Rye began as MPG’s much-respected 95% rye/5% malted barley distillate. After spending a decade in new, 53-gallon charred oak barrels, Dave then finished it in Cognac-based Orange Liqueur casks (that’s kind of what the name implies, right?). It is packaged at its barrel proof of 55.72% ABV (111.24°), and a 750mL bottle has a suggested price of $90.00. It is a limited edition, yet several batches have been released.

 

Before we #DrinkCurious, I must first thank Proof & Wood for sending me a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review. For the record, this sample came from Barrel 7.

 

• Whiskey Type: American Rye
• Distiller: MPG
• Age: 10 years
• Mashbill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley
• Cooperage: New, 53-gallon charred oak barrels, then finished in Cognac-based Orange Liqueur casks
• Alcohol Content: 55.72% ABV (111.24°)
• Price per 750mL: $90.00

 

Appearance: A neat pour in my Glencairn glass seemed like the logical way to explore this expression. The topaz-colored whiskey formed a thin rim with thick, widely-spaced, slow-moving tears.

 

Nose: After patiently waiting 15 minutes for the Rye to breathe, I brought the glass beneath my nostrils and started sniffing. A blast of orange marmalade, cinnamon, rye spice, orange bitters, and a kiss of vanilla hit me. When I drew the aroma through my lips, I could swear I tasted brandy.

 

Palate: I took my first sip and encountered a weirdly lightweight yet thick mouthfeel, followed by a palate shock of orange bitters. I sipped again. On the front of my palate were flavors of marmalade, dark chocolate, and nutmeg. The middle featured cinnamon, rye spice, and maraschino cherries, while the back included ancient oak, vanilla, and green peppercorn.

 

Finish: I’m unsure where to start because there’s a whirlwind in my mouth and throat, making it challenging to nail down. I found vanilla, cocoa, green peppercorn, rye spice, older oak, dry leather, maraschino cherries, and candied orange slices as the final note after the rest faded. Spice notes slowly ramped up throughout, hitting a crescendo at 1:31. The entire experience lasted 2:21, making it incredibly long.  

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Drinking Tumblin’ Dice’s 10-Year Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Cognac-based Orange Liqueur Casks was like riding a roller coaster: Sweet, earthy, savory, and spicy notes blended with ease. It was easy to mistake the proof for somewhere in the upper 90s; it lacked any alcohol burn.

 

The only complaint is how hard it can be to find. It isn’t listed on Proof and Wood’s webpage. Once a batch is gone, you’re left waiting for another.

 

This Tumblin’ Dice release is worth grabbing if you see a Bottle on the shelf. If an online retailer has it, order one (or another if they’ll allow it). It is fairly priced, a fascinating pour, and a real treat. Cheers!   

 

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit, but begs you to do so responsibly.